Abdominal belt and athletic supporter



April 9, 1968 M A. @ULA-CK 3,375,864

ABDOMINAL BELT AND ATHLETIC SUPPORTER Filed Oct. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Wx A' aM/fe April 9, 1968 M. A. GULACK 3,376,864

ABDOMINAL BELT AND'ATHLETIC SUPPORTER Filed Oct. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. /WAX f4 Gayle( BY I ML- //MW United States Patent O 3,376,864 ABDOMINAL BELT AND ATHLETIC SUPPORTER Max A. Gulack, 108 E. 37th St., New York, N.Y. 10016 Filed Oct. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 498,931 Claims. (Cl. 12S-161) This invention relates to a combination abdominal belt and athletic supporter, and more particularly to a device for supporting the abdomen and especially the inguinal portion of the abdomen, in combination with a suspensory pouch member.

A disadvantage which is common to all of the suspensories and jock straps of the prior art is that they do not provide a support for the inguinal portion of the abdomen, and the suspensory pouch member provided actually interferes with any possible supporting action by the belt of the inguinal portion of the abdomen. The pouch member which forms the suspensory in the prior art is customarily attached to the bottom of the bodyencircling belt, and the belt begins where the pouch member ends. The pouch member is designed to hold the testicles and the penis; and therefore the lower edge of the belt, being joined to the upper edge of the pouch member, cannot extend across and against the inguinal portion of the abdomen. Thus, in the conventional athletic supporter or jock strap, the inguinal portion of the abdomen, which in many cases needs retaining support more than the upper portion of the abdomen, does not even come in contact with the bodyencircling belt, since said inguinal portion is blocked olf and the belt is held away from the body by the pouch with the genital organs of the wearer. Thus, most athletic supporters are built in such a manner that the bottom edge of the belt, in normal wearing position, begins several inches above the groin, and the belt then extends upwardly therefrom. The devices of the prior art thus cannot furnish any direct, ush support where it is most needed, namely against the groin and lowermost or inguinal portion of the abdomen. If the devices of the prior art are pulled down at the front in an attempt to exert a beneficial pressure on the groin area, this relaxes and renders ineffective the suspensory pouch and also renders the bodyencircling belt uncomfortable; and further-more, the latter would tend to move from such position, especially during active physic-al exercise.

It is therefore an object of this invention to overcome the above-mentioned difficulties and disadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which has a comfortable nesting place for the testicles of the wearer, while also providing support for the inguinal portion of the abdomen, and while leaving the penis in unconfined freedom and comfort.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and inexpensive means for permitting the upper portion of the pouch member to be displaced away fro-m the belt to which it is fastened, out of the way for water closet purposes.

To these ends, and in accordance with one feature of the invention, the device is constructed in such a manner that the body-circling band or belt has a lower edge which extends down to the lower limit of the abdomen, covering the abdomen substantially completely, down to .the vicinity of the base of the penis. A pouch member is then attached to the belt by means of spot attachments, such as buttons, hooks, snaps or sewing, on the right and left sides of the pouch member. These spot attachments, preferably, join the bottom of the belt to points approximately midway between the bottom and top of the pouch member. In addition, upper spot attachments also join the upper corners of the pouch ment ber to points higher up on the belt, approximately along a horizontal median line of the belt. In this manner, the testicles can rest in the pouch member, and the penis can extend upwardly within the pouch, between the belt and the pouch member. The upper portion of the pouch member is continued upwardly over and free of the lower portion of the belt, and is fastened by the above-mentioned upper spot attachments placed at approximately the horizontal median line of the belt and joined to the upper two corners of the pouch member. This arrangement insures access of air to the interior of the pouch member, provides 4a certain amount of freedom of the penis, prevents pulling away of the lower portion of the belt from the body by the genital organs, and provides maximum flexibility.

According to another feature of the invention, the pouch member is provided with a y opening in the forward portion thereof.

According to a further feature of the invention, an elastic stretchable member is positioned at the upper spot attachments, intermediate the belt and the pouch member, to permit easy pulling of the top of the pouch member forward for water closet purposes.

According to still another feature of the invention, the elastic stretchable member comprises a cord which extends from one corner of the pouch member upwardly through a plurality of loops fastened to the belt and then downwardly to another corner of the pouch member to allow greater stretch of the elastic member and more easy pulling away of the upper portion ofthe pouch member from the belt.

According to still another feature of the invention, the forward portion of the belt is provided with a stiffening reinforcing panel at the forward lower portion thereof.

According to still another featureof the invention, in place of perineal straps extending from the belt to the lower portion of the pouch member, the perineal straps are incorporated into fabric forming a buttock-covering member.

The foregoing and lother objects, advantages and features of my invention, these features being set forth with particuslarity in the claims annexed hereto, will become more apparent fro-m the following description in conjunction with the embodiment of a combination abdominal belt and athletic supporter according to the invention, illustrated by way of example of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of Ia device according to the invention, shown in position on the wearer;

FIG. 2 is -a rear view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the front center lportion of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross section taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation view of a modification of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation view of another modification of the device of FIG. l;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation view of a further modification of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is -a front perspective view of another modification of the device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. l0 is a vertical cross section taken along the plane of line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

In the drawings, the same reference characters are used in all illustrations for the same or functionally similar co-mponents.

The combination abdominal belt and athletic supporter accord-ing to the invention comprises a body-encircling belt, generally designated in the figures as 10, and having a front upper edge 12 and a front lower edge 14. As best shown in FIG. 5, the front lower portion 16 of the belt, adjacent to the 'lower edge 14, is positionable so as to extend across and against the inguinal portion of the abdomen when the device is in normal wearing position on the body of .a wearer. A pouch member 20 is secured to the belt 10 by either permanent or detachable fastening means. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, these fastening means are shown as permanent spot attachments such as by sewing, `provided along the upper edge of the pouch 20 at least at the corners 22, 24 thereof. Further spot attachments at 26 and 28, about midway between the bottom and top of the pouch member 20, attach the sides of the pouch 20 to the portion 16 of the belt, at or slightly spaced from the bottom edge 14 of the belt (FIG. 5).

Perineal straps 30, 32, preferably of stretchable fabric material, extend between the lower edge 14 of the belt 10, around the legs of the wearer, between the thighs, and are attached to the -lower portion of the pouch member 20 at 36. As may be seen from` the illustrations in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, the straps 30, 32 are joined to the rear of the pouch 20 at one respective strap end, and to the rear side portion of the belt at another respective end of the straps 30, 32. Similarly, when the straps or perineal means 30, 32 become part of underwear pants as at 130 of FIGS. 9 and 10 the same general function is achieved by attaching the lower portion of the pouch member 120 at one end of the perineal means 130 and joined to the rear side portion of the belt 10 at the other end of the perineal means 130.

In FIG. 3, the left portion of the pouch member has been cut away to better illustrate reinforcing members 38, 40, sewn to the belt 10, and which `are provided to help stiffen the belt 10. The fasten-ing means 22, 24, 26, 28, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are attached to the belt at or near these reinforcing members 38, 40. As shown in FIG. 4, a steel stilfener member 42 may be sewn within the fabric covering of the reinforcing members. A soft fabric reinforcing or stitching 44 may be sewn over the inside and/ or outside of the central middle portion of the pouch member 20, as shown in FIGS. l, 3 and 6.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the belt 10 defines a front lower portion 16 thereof which is positionable so as to normally extend horizontally across and supportingly resting directly against the inguinal portion of the abdomen of the wearer. The pouch member 20 defines an upper pouch portion thereof, as may be seen in FIGS. 5 and l0, normally in mutual overlapping contiguous positions relative to the `front lower portion 16 of the belt 10, and normally disposed on the outside of the belt 10 with respect to the said inguinal abdominal portion of the wearer. It is to be particularly noted that the pouch member 20 does not hang or ldepend from the bottomedge 14 of the belt 10, but instead the upper portion of pouch 20 lies in a different geometric plane from the lower belt portion 16, as considered along an imaginary vertical .line extending vertically along their mutually overlapping positions (see FIG. 5). As may be seen from the drawing, between the distinct spaced fastening locations such as 22-26 as seen in FIG. 5, 24-28 as seen in FIG. 3, 22-24 as seen in FIG. 1 and 124-128 as seen in FIG. 6, etc., along these spaces between the pouch member 20 and the belt 10 the pouch is not fastened to the belt. This structure makes possible some lateral and vertical displacement of the upper pouch portion of pouch 20 relative to the lower belt portion 16.

As a result, the lower Ifront portion 16 of the belt 10 provides supporting pressure directly against the inguinal portion of the abdomen of the wearer while the pouch member 20, since it does not hang or depend directly from the base of the belt, is freely movable relative to the belt 10, without depending directly from it, and thus provides a comfortable movable support for the genital organs of the wearer without excessive upward pul-l on the pouch from the closure means.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, a reinforcing panel 46 is sewn into the belt 10 to stiffen the front portion thereof.

Although the fastening means in any of the embodiments may comprise snap fasteners, these are illustrated, only by way of example, in the embodiment of FIG. 6, in which the snap fasteners are indicated at 122, 124, 126, 128. The snap fasteners 122 and 126 on the pouch member engage corresponding snap fasteners 122a and 126a attached to the reinforcing panel 46 of the belt 10 or to the belt itself. It will be noted, particularly in FIG. 6, that the portions of the pouch member 20 between the fasteners are not attached to the belt. For example, the upper edge 48 between the fasteners 122 and 124 of the pouch member remains free and unattached. Likewise, the portion of the pouch member 20 between the snap fasteners 122 and 126 likewise remains free and unattached. In FIG. 6, the snap fasteners 122 and 126 are illustrated as being detached and open, with the left corner of the pouch member arranged forwardly for better illustration of the construction.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, a y opening is inserted in the central portion of the pouch member 20, with an overlapping flap 146, shown partially cut away for illustrative purposes. In this embodiment of FIG. 7, the portion 148 of the pouch member 20 extending between the spot fastenings 22 and 24 is unattached, although the fastenings 22, 24 are permanently fixed to the belt 10.

As best shown in FIG. 6, the snap fastenings 125, 128 are located on a lhorizontal plane approximately midway between the -bottom 50 and the top 52 of thev pouch member 20. The upper spot attachments 122, 124 and their corresponding snap attachments 122er are located approx-imately a horizontal median line of the belt 10 midway between the lower and upper edges of the belt. As is clearly shown in FIG. 6, the upper and lower snap attachments 122, 124 and 126, 128 are spaced from each other and arranged as the corners of a quadrangle. Tlhis thus provides access of air to the interior of the pouch.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, an elastic cord 52 is utilized to provide still more freedom and flexibility of the upper portion 148 of the pouch member 20. One end of the elastic cord 52 is attached -at 222 to one corner of the upper band 148 of the pouch 20, and the other end of the elastic cord 52 is attached to another corner 224 of the upper band 148. The cord 52 is strung through a plurality of eyelets or loops 54, 56 in such a manner that the elastic cord can be pulled through without undue binding or friction. Since the elastic cord 52 is of a greater length than the distance between the corners 222 and 224, it will permit greater and easier stretching than merely an elastic band sewn in a straight line between these two points 222 and 224.

FIGS. 9 and l() illustrate how a device according to the invention can be inconporated into underwear pants while providing comfortable support for the inguinal portion of the abdomen as well as a suspensory for the genitals. Instead of the perineal straps 30, 32, a buttocks-covering fabric port-ion 130 is provided between the band portion 10 and the pouch member 120. The snap fastenings for attaching the pouch member to the belt 10 may be of any of the types above-described with relation to FIGS. 1-8, or, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 for the sake of example only, may be fasteners 322:1 and 3240, fixed to the band 10, from which elastic bands 55, 57 extend respectively to fasteners 322 and 324 in the upper corners of the pouch member 120. Either permanent or disjoinable fasteners 126, 128 located at the median of the pouch 120 between the bottom and top of the latter, join the pouch 120 between the bottom and top of the latter, join the pouch to the lower portion 16 of the belt.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, upon a study of this disclosure that this invention permits of various modifications and alterations with respect to the individual components and yarrangements disclosed, and hence can be embodied in underwear, jock straps, suspensories and abdominal supports other than as particularly illustrated and described herein, without departing from the essenti-al features of tlhe invention and within the spirit and scope of the claims annexed hereto.

I claim:

1. A combination abdominal belt and athletic supportin-g device comprising, in combination, a relatively wide belt adapted to encircle the body of the wearer, said belt being of a width .adapted to extend over the major portion of the lower abdomen of the wearer, said belt defining a front lower portion thereof positionable so as to normally extend horizontally across and supportingly resting directly ragainst the inguinal portion of the abdomen of the wearer, a pouch member defining an upper pouch portion normally in mutual overlapping contiguous positions relative to said front lower portion of said belt and normally disposed outside of said belt with respect to said inguinal abdominal portion of the wearer, said pouch member and said belt together carrying cooperating closure means comprising a plurality of distinct spaced fastening spot locations disposed above said front lower portion of said belt yand arranged so as to permit lateral and vertical displacement of said upper pouch portion relative to said lower belt portion at said mutual overlapping positions thereof, said front lower portion of said belt and of said upper pouch portion 'being normally disposed in different geometric planes at a line considered vertically along their respective mutually overlapping positions, whereby said lower front portion of the belt provides supporting pressure directly against the inguinal portion of the abdomen of the wearer while said pouch member is freely movable relative to said belt without depending directly therefrom to provide a comfortable movable support for the genital organs of the wearer without excessive upward pull thereagainst lfrom said closure means.

2. Device according to claim 1, said front lower portion of the belt extending downwardly to the vicinity of the base of the penis of the wearer.

3. Device according to claim 1, said pouch member having means fforming a fly opening in the forward portion thereof.

4. Device according to claim 1, said closure means including spot attachments joining said pouch member to said belt, one pair of said spot attachments being located at points approximately midway between the bottom and top of said pouch member, others of said pair of spot attachments joining said points to the overlapping portion of said pouch member and of said front lower portion of said belt.

5. Device according to claim 4, said closure means furrther including other spot attachments join-ing the upper portion of said pouch member to said belt, said spot attachments being arranged as corners of a quadrangle.

6. Device according to claim 1, said closure means including spot attachments located intermediate the bottom and top of said pouch member, said spot attachments joining said pouch .member to said belt, and other spot attachments joining the upper porti-on of said pouch member to said belt.

7. Device according to claim 6, said closure means including an elastic stretch-able member intermediate said belt and said pouch member.

8. Device according to c-laim 7, said means including a plurality of loops, said stretchable member comprising an elastic cord extending and spaced upwardly from one side of the upper portion orf said pouch member through said loops and downwardly to the other side of said pouch member.

9. Device according to claim 1, sa-id belt including a stiffening reinforcing panel fastened at the forward portion thereof, at least some of said closure means extending between said stiffening panel land said pouch member.

10. Device according to claiml 1, said perineal means comprising thigh-encircling and buttocks-covering fabric for connecting and supporting the lowermost portion of said pouch member to said belt while avoiding pulling action transmitted along said perineal means to said pouch member in an upward direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,193,432 8/1916 Schwarzer 12S-161 2,463,730 3/ 1949 Weiss 12S-158 2,686,517 8/1954 Boyd 128--158 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COMBINATION ABDOMINAL BELT AND ATHLETIC SUPPORTING DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A RELATIVELY WIDE BELT ADAPTED TO ENCIRCLE THE BODY OF THE WEARER, SAID BELT BEING OF A WIDTH ADAPTED TO EXTEND OVER THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE LOWER ABDOMEN OF THE WEARER, SAID BELT DEFINING A FRONT LOWER PORTION THEREOF POSITIONABLE SO AS TO NORMALLY EXTEND HORIZONTALLY ACROSS AND SUPPORTINGLY RESTING DIRECTLY AGAINST THE INGUINAL PORTION OF THE ABDOMEN OF THE WEARER, A POUCH MEMBER DEFINING AN UPPER POUCH PORTION NORMALLY IN MUTUAL OVERLAPPING CONTIGUOUS POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID FRONT LOWER PORTION OF SAID BELT AND NORMALLY DISPOSED OUTSIDE OF SAID BELT WITH RESPECT TO SAID INGUINAL ABDOMINAL PORTION OF THE WEARER, SAID POUCH MEMBER AND SAID BELT TOGETHER CARRYING COOPERATING CLOSURE MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF DISTINCT SPACED FASTENING SPOT LOCATIONS DISPOSED ABOVE SAID FRONT LOWER PORTION OF SAID BELT AND ARRANGED SO AS TO PERMIT LATERAL AND VERTICAL DISPLACEMENT OF SAID UPPER POUCH PORTION RELATIVE TO SAID LOWER BELT PORTION AT SAID MUTUAL OVERLAPPING POSITIONS THEREOF, SAID FRONT LOWER PORTION OF SAID BELT AND OF SAID UPPER POUCH PORTION BEING NORMALLY DISPOSED IN DIFFERENT GEOMETRIC PLANES AT A LINE CONSIDERED VERTICALLY ALONG THEIR RESPECTIVE MUTUALLY OVERLAPPING POSITIONS, WHEREBY SAID LOWER FRONT PORTION OF THE BELT PROVIDES SUPPORTING PRESSURE DIRECTLY AGAINST THE INGUINAL PORTION OF THE ABDOMEN OF THE WEARER WHILE SAID POUCH MEMBER IS FREELY MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID BELT WITHOUT DEPENDING DIRECTLY THEREFROM TO PROVIDE A COMFORTABLE MOVABLE SUPPORT FOR THE GENITAL ORGANS OF THE WEARER WITHOUT EXCESSIVE UPWARD PULL THEREAGAINST FROM SAID CLOSURE MEANS. 